UK Covid deaths have plunged by more than HALF in a week – as the daily death toll increased by 43 today.
In the last 24 hours, 4,052 positive cases of coronavirus were recorded – bringing the total number of people infected in the UK to 4,345,788.
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And today's coronavirus deaths bring the total grim figure to 126,713.
Yesterday, 4,040 more cases of Covid were reported in Britain, while 56 people lost their lives to the virus.
But today's infection figure is down from this time last week, when 5,605 positive cases of the virus were recorded.
And the daily death toll was also higher on March 24, when 98 fatalities were reported in the UK – meaning there has been a 56 per cent drop in a week.
NHS England data shows that the total number of first doses of the vaccine given throughout the whole of the UK now stands at 30,905,538.
The UK's blitz vaccine campaign will hopefully be the key to bringing the country out of full lockdown within the next few months.
But Dr Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director of Public Health England, said today: “It is encouraging that the death rate is falling.
"But there are still as many people in hospital now as there were at the start of the second wave, and tens of thousands of us are getting infected every week and could become seriously ill.
"As restrictions lift and the weather improves, we cannot drop our guard. We’re not out of the woods quite yet.
“Until all of us are protected it remains essential to follow the steps we know stop the virus from spreading.
"Case numbers are still high in certain places and looking forward they are certainly not predictable. So your actions are still saving lives.”
It comes as…
- Pfizer's jab is '100 per cent effective at preventing illness in 12-15 year-olds'
- School days could be made longer to help kids catch up on lost lockdown learning, a top minister said today
- Brits have been warned not to "blow it now" after thousands packed beaches and parks, sparking fears of a lockdown extension
- The UK economy bounced back more strongly than first thought in the last six months of 2020, but was still down 9.8% overall for the year
- Angela Merkel is adamant she'll have the AstraZeneca Covid jab – as Germany bans it for under-60s over blood clot fears
- Hope for summer holidays as UK vaccine success 'should open travel'
Meanwhile, teenagers could soon be eligible to get a coronavirus vaccine.
A study has found Pfizer’s jab is 100 per cent effective at preventing Covid illness in 12 to 15 year olds.
The company announced Wednesday that in a study of 2,260 volunteers in the US, there were no cases of Covid in those fully vaccinated (1,131).
By comparison, there were 18 cases in those who had not received the two-shot jab and instead were given a dummy shot (1,129).
Although it is a small study, and it has not been published in a journal, it's a step closer to a fully vaccinated population.
The Pfizer vaccine is one of three approved in the UK, along with those from Oxford/AstraZeneca and Moderna.
And school days in Britain could be made longer to help kids catch up on lost lockdown learning, a top minister said today.
Communities secretary Robert Jenrick confirmed the Government is looking at adding extra after-hours classes to bridge the gap.
His remarks came after a landmark report into racial equality in Britain advised extending the school day in disadvantaged areas.
SLOWING TOLL
The study by an independent group of experts said the move would an effective way to even out the hit kids' learning has taken from the pandemic.
Mr Jenrick said the idea was "an interesting one the Government has already given some thought to".
Brits have been warned not to "blow it now" after thousands packed beaches and parks, sparking fears of a lockdown extension.
Experts have warned of a spike in infections after cooped-up sunseekers flocked outdoors to mark the hottest March day in more than half a century yesterday.
It came after groups of up to six people were allowed to meet outdoors. for the first time on Monday.
More coronavirus face mask rules and tougher social distancing measures are needed to prevent another lockdown as restrictions continue to lift, scientists have warned today.
Experts say that tough measures should “increase in strength” in a bid to keep Covid under control as lockdowns are lifted across the country.
Modelling developed by scientists at the universities of Cambridge and Liverpool used mathematical equations to give insights about how Covid-19 will spread in different scenarios.
The scientists used examples of “non-spatial” control measures including face masks, hand washing and social distancing, and “spatial interventions” including lockdown and the restriction of long-distance travel.
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